Today in 1953, the Houston Cougars ended the 1953 season with a win over Tennessee at Rice Stadium, 33-19. Five different Cougars scored rushing touchdowns that day.
UH led 13-6 at the break after controlling the first half. The Cougars scored on a nearly 10-minute drive to open the second half. But Tennessee fought back, cutting the lead to 20-19 on the first play of the fourth quarter. Vol Jimmy Wade scored 3 TDs that day, with 2 going 60 yards or longer.
With the lead down to one, Houston scored twice in the next 10 minutes to put the game away.
The Cougars finished 4-4-1 (1-2 MVC) that season, having tied A&M in the opener (14-14) and then alternating wins and losses all year. The schedule looked like this: tie, loss, win, loss, win, loss, win, loss, win. UH beat MVC champ Detroit on the road but lost to Tulsa and Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State). Tennessee went 6-4-1.
Highlight video and viewing guide
Tennessee is wearing white helmets, while UH is in dark helmets and jerseys. The video has no sound:
0:22 – Vol TB Jimmy Wade (#93) 60-yard TD (6-0 UT)
0:52 – UH punt returner Kenny Stegall (31) goes 23 yards
1:06 – QB Bobby Clatterbuck (18) 18-yard TD (7-6 UH)
1:28 – Defender Teddy Gray (11) recovers a fumble
1:42 – Clatterbuck fakes a pitch and goes 10 yards
1:52 – Tommy Bailes (40) runs 11 yards
1:59 – Stegall scores for Houston (13-6 UH)
End of the first-half highlights.
2:12 – Clatterbuck passes twice Lavell Isbell (88)
2:31 – Bobby Don Walker (20) scores (20-6 UH)
2:52 – Vols’ Wade scores from 63 (20-13 UH)
3:14 – UH punter Donn Hargrove (24) is blocked
3:42 – UT’s Wade scores for the 3rd time (20-19 UH)
(UH’s 4th TD is missing. Hargrove scored to make it 27-19)
4:01 – Clatterbuck keeps it and gets to the six-yard line
4:15 – Jack Patterson (45) scores from the one (33-19 UH)
